Jet engine



Oct. 27, 1964 J. B. CAMPBELL 3,153,905

JET ENGINE Filed Jan. 10, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

3 4 I T 22 l WI" BY M Oct. 27, 1964 Filed Jan. 10, 1962 J. B. CAMPBELL JET ENGINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jerry 8. Campbell 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,153,905 JET ENGINE Harry R. Campbell, 1016 Duran, Lufkin, Tex., assignor of pereent to Robert 3. Sutheriin, Liberty, Tex.

Fiied Jan. 1% 1962, Ser. No. 165,376 9 Claims. (Ci. 6tl35.6)

This invention comprises a novel and useful jet engine and more particularly relates to an internal combustion engine of the rotating type to which rotation is imparted by the reaction of combustion products discharged therefrom and which through its rotation produces a propulsive efiect.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a compact, simple and light weight construction of an internal combustion engine especially adapted for relatively low power requirements as for example for outboard motor marine propulsion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary jet engine having a simplified and improved mounting means for the engine and for supplying a combustible mixture thereto and for igniting the combustible mixture therein.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device in accordance with the preceding objects which will attain a much finer dispersion and intermixing of the fuel and air components of the combustible mixture within the combustible chamber of the engine.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a rotary jet engine in accordance with the preceding objects wherein continuous uninterrupted combustion may be maintained within the combustion chamber while subject to ready control as to the proportions of air and fuel and the quantity of the combustible mixture supplied to the combustion chamber.

These together with other objects and advantages which will subsequently become apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section and illustrating one manner of applying as an outboard motor for marine propulsion one form of the rotary jet engine;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the rotary jet engine and its mounting from the intake or front end of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the plane of section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and showing certain internal structural details of the rotary engine and its mounting;

FIGURE 4 is a detail view taken upon a considerably enlarged scale of a portion of the construction of FIG- URE 3 at the left side thereof and showing in particular the disposition of the combustible mixture supply means and of the mounting for the rotary engine;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a detail view in vertical transverse section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line s s of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 7 is a further detail view taken in horizontal section substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 77 of FIGURE 3.

Although the rotary jet engine forming the subject matter of this invention is capable of many different applications, it is deemed sufiicient for the purposes of understanding the invention set forth and claimed herein to depict the engine as forming a part of a marine propulsion engine such as an outboard motor. Thus, there is shown a portion of a boat hull 10 having the usual transom 12 thereon upon which is detachably mounted and supported an outboard motor assembly indicated generally by the numeral 14. Secured to the lower end of the depending support post 16 of this unit is the propulsion unit indicated generally by the numeral 18.

Referring next primarily to FIGURES 3 and 4 it will be observed that for the purpose of this invention the lower end of the vertical support post 16 has a depending projection 2t) which as shown in the detailed view of FEGURE 7 is ellipsoidal in horizontal cross-section and which constitutes a support and a part of the mounting means of the engine. As will be further noted from FIG- URE 3 in conjunction with FIGURE 1, what may be termed the forward portion of the lower end of the support post 16 and the support 20 carried thereby is formed as an annulus or ring 22 which extends forwardly and rearwardly of the support 20 and which has its rearward portion internally threaded as at 24. The front end of this ring is provided with a beveled lip 26 to facilitate the flow of fluid therethrough under the propulsive action of the propulsion unit as set forth hereinafter.

The propulsion unit further includes a shroud indicated generally by the numeral 3% and which at its forward end is provided with an externally threaded rim or neck 32 received in the threaded portion 24 of the member 22 so as to provide a simple means of detachably connecting the shroud thereto. The shroud is rearwardly tapered and convergent from its forward end terminating in a diametricaily reduced cylindrical exhaust or discharge neck 3 by which the fluid propelled through the device is discharged rearwardly to produce a propulsive effect. At

' the intermediate portion of the shroud and preferably forwardly of the reduced discharge neck 34 there is provided a depending web, lug or other member 36 which comprises a journaling means having a journaling bore 38 therein which may be provided with the customary bronze or other lining 40.

There is further provided a longitudinally elongated hollow casing 42 whose interior forms a combustion chamber 44 and which casing comprises a rotary engine. This casing is journaled in the support 20 at the forward end of the casing and in the journal member 36 at the rear end of the casing as shown in FIGURE 3 for rotation about its longitudinal axis within the shroud. For this purpose, the forward end of the casing is open being provided with a cylindrical neck 46 which is journaled in a bearing member 48 disposed in an opening, chamber or bore 59 provided in the support 20 axially of the element 22 thereof and which preferably extends entirely through the support as shown. It will thus be seen that the forward end of the casing 42 is thus rotatably journaled in the support 29 and is in continuous communication with the opening 50 for a purpose to be subsequently apparent.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURE 4 it will be observed that the bore Sti is provided with an internal projection 52 which may conveniently be in the form of an annular ring or flange while rearwardly of this projection the bore is provided with a counterbore 54 which receives the previously mentioned bearing member 48 and the cylinder end 46 rotatably therein, with the cylinder end abutting against the rearward annular face 56 of the counterbore and flange 52. At its rear end, the cylinder is preferably closed having an axially extending projection or axle 5S journaled in the bearing member 40. It will thus be seen that the cylinder is rotatably supported at its opposite ends, and by engagernent of the threaded extremity of the shroud 30 with the member 22., the opposite ends of the casing are rotatably journaled and retained between the support 20 and the journal member 36.

In a manner to be subsequently set forth a combustible mixture is delivered continuously into the combustion chamber 44 at the open front thereof, and after admission therein the combustible mixture is ignited and the combustion products are discharged at the rear end of the cylinder. For the last mentioned purpose a plurality of circumferentially spaced orifices discharge nozzles or'ports 60 are provided, which as shown in FIG- URE extend secantly of the longitudinal axis of the casing 42 so that the issuing exhaust gases under pressure will produce a reactive force or jet action imparting rotation to the casing about its longitudinal axis. Also these nozzles or ports 60 in addition to being secantly directed with respect to the axis of rotation of the casing, are also each disposed with its own central axis directed rearwardly of the shroud so as to produce also a resulting forward thrust upon the casing.

Comparing FIGURES 3 and 5 it will be observed that the member 36 is in the form of spokes or webs so as to oifer as little resistance as possible to the flow of fluid through the shroud and to the escape of the exhaust gases with this fluid through the discharge or exhaust neck 34.

Secured to the exterior of the casing 42 within the shroud are a plurality of blades or vanes 62 comprising propulsion means which are so placed that upon rotation of the casing about its longitudinal axis they will exert a propulsive force along this longitudinal axis. This force is utilized to cause flow of fluid from the inlet end 26 of the member 22, through the shroud and together with the accompanying exhaust gases from the combustion chamber through the discharge pipe 34. Thus, a propulsive thrust is imparted to the support 16 upon which the shroud and the rotary engine are mounted.

Referring again more specifically to FIGURE 4 it will be observed that the combustible mixture supply means consists of a generally cylindrical housing 64 having its rearward end provided with a convergent noseshaped ball portion 66 having an orifice or nozzle 68 therein. This nozzle is disposed in the inlet opening of the rim 46 of the casing 42 so as to discharge fuel centrally of this opening into the combustion chamber. An annular flange 70 is integrally or otherwise rigidly attached to the exterior of the housing 64 and is adapted to be slidably received in the bore 50 and seated against the internal projection 52. A closure cap 72 is threadedly engaged upon the externally threaded sleeve portion 74 of the member to both provide a closure for this opening 5.0 and also to abut the open outer end of the housing 64 to thereby firmly hold and seat the flange 70' against the projection 52 in a rigid manner. Obviously by removing the closure cap 72 ready access is had to the opening 50 and to the housing 64 for inspection of or servicing of the combustible mixture supply means.

Secured in any suitable manner within the housing 64 are a pair of bushings 76 and 78 in which is rotatably and slidably received the stem of an axially disposed needle valve 80'contro1ling the discharge orifice 68. This valve is adjusted relative to this orifice by means of cooperating threads 82 on the stem of the valve and 84 on a control shaft 86 which latter extends through one side of the housing 64 and being journaled therein is capable upon rotation of imparting axial and/or rotary movement to the needlev valve. Thus, the discharge orifice 68 is controlled or adjusted between fully opened and fully closed positions thereby affording accurate regulation of the fuel supply.

By means of suitable ports 88 extending through the post 16 and support 20 and opening into the bore 50 air is supplied to the interior of the bore and about the housing 64. Any suitable means, not shown, may be provided for controlling or regulating the supply of air if desired. On the other hand, the air supply may be constant and the control of the fuel supply may constitute an adequate means for varying the proportion of the mixture and the total quantity of the mixture supplied to the combustion chamber.v

The flange 76, as shown in FlGURE 6, is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 96 extending therethrough to provide means for diffusing and permitting continuous passage of the air from the opening 50 into the opening of the casing 42 and thus into the combustion chamber. It will be observed that the incoming air thus surrounds the incoming fuel and intimately mixes therewith so as to produce a very complete mixing of the air and fuel preparatory to combustion of the same.

Any suitable ignition igniting means may be provided. As illustrated, a pair of electrodes 2 extend through insulating bushings 94 in the flange 7t? and are connected with electric conductors 96, see FIGURE 7, which extend upwardly through the support 20 and the support post 16.

As previously suggested, the ignition circuit cables and the fuel supply passages of the air supply passages extend upwardly through the support 20 and through the hollow support post 16 and they are provided with any suitable control means, not shown. Inasmuch as the invention claimed herein is not dependent upon any particular arrangement or construction of these conventional elements of an outboard motor, a further description of the same is deemed to be unnecessary.

It will now be apparent that the combustion supplying means and the ignition means are all carried within and supported by the support 20, that the shroud 30 is likewise carried solely by the support, and that the rotary casing 42 of the engine is journaled in the support. Further, the shroud itself forms one of the bearings for the rotatable engine casing 42. There is thus produced a very compact arrangement and yet one easily assembled or disassembled as may be required for servicing or inspection. Further, the rota-tion of the casing 42 by the reaction of the discharge of exhaust gases therefrom imparts rotation to the vanes or blades 62 thus inducing a flow of water through the shroud which in turn causes a propulsive effect upon the boat. Further, however, the exhaust gases themselves being discharged rearwardly produce a reaction effect thus further contributing to the propulsive effect produced by the device. The exhaust gases further assist the blades in effect-ing propulsion of the water or other fluid through the shroud.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, iand accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An outboard marine propulsion device including a generally vertical support post having mounted upon its lower end a submerged rotary jet engine comprising a horizontal-1y elongated casing with a combustion chamber therein, means supporting said casing solely from said support post at the casing forward end for rotation about the casing longitudinal axis, submerged propulsion means mounted upon the intermediate portion of the casing exterior surface for producing a thrust longitudinally of said casing upon rotation thereof, said support post having passages therein, means including said passages for supplying a combustible mixture and for igniting the latter in said combustion chamber, means for efiecting rotation of said casing by the discharge of combustion products from said combustion chamber.

2'. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support post has a generally horizontal bore in its lower end, said casing having an open forward end journaled in one end of said bore, a removable closure for the other end of said bore, said passages communicating with said bore.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a rear support means carried by said support post lower end and journaling the exterior rear surface of said casing and retaining the front end of said casing against said support post.

4. The combination of claim 1 including a horizontally elongated shroud enclosing said casing and said propulsion means, said shroud having an open front end constituting a Water inlet and which is mounted upon the lower end of said support post and surrounds said casing supporting means and an open rear end for the discharge of water and combustion products therefrom, a rear support means carried by said shroud upon its interior and surrounding and journaling the exterior surface of the rear end of said casing.

5. A jet engine power plant comprising a support, a rotary jet engine comprising a casing mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis in lateral projecton from said support, said support having a bore with an annular shoulder therein and said casing having an open end rotatably journaled in said bore and abutting said shoulder, passages in said support communicating with said bore, means for supplying fuel and air through said passages and bore into said casing, means for effecting combustion of said fuel and air in said casing, means for effecting rotation of said casing by the discharge of combustion products therefrom, access and closure means for said bore.

6. The combination of claim 5 including a fuel housing axially positioned in said bore and having a discharge end disposed centrally within said casing open end, a seating surface in said here, said access and closure means abutting one end of said fuel housing and clamping the latter against said seating surface thereby closing said casing open end, said fuel supply means communicating with the interior of said fuel housing, said air supply means communicating with said bore, air inlet passages disposed in circumferentially spaced relation about said housing and connecting said bore with the interior of said casing.

7. The combination of claim 6 including a fuel control valve in said housing regulating flow of fuel through said discharge end, actuating means for said control means extending through said housing and into said bore.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein said combustion effecting means includes cooperating electrodes disposed in said bore and extending into said casing open end, conductors in said passages for connecting said electrodes to a source of electric current.

9. The combination of claim 8 including a fuel housing axially positioned in said bore and having a discharge end disposed centrally within said casing open end, a seating surface in said bore, said access and closure means abutting one end of said fuel housing and clamping the latter against said seating surface thereby closing said casing open end, said fuel supply means communicating with the interior of said fuel housing, said air supply means communicating with said bore, air inlet passages disposed in crircumferentially spaced relation about said housing and connecting said bore with the interior of said casing, said housing having a laterally projecting seating flange engaging said seating surface, said air inlet passages and said electrodes extending through said flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,404,767 Heppner July 23, 1946 2,473,603 Miller June 21, 1949 2,836,958 Ward June 3, 1958 2,883,828 Howell Apr. 28, 1959 

1. AN OUTBOARD MARINE PROPULSION DEVICE INCLUDING A GENERALLY VERTICAL SUPPORT POST HAVING MOUNTED UPON ITS LOWER END A SUBMERGE ROTARY JET ENGINE COMPRISING A HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED CASING WITH A COMBUSTION CHAMBER THEREIN, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID CASING SOLELY FROM SAID SUPPORT POST AT THE CASING FORWARD END FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE CASING LONGITUDINAL AXIS, SUBMERGED PROPULSION MEANS MOUNTED UPON THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE CASING EXTERIOR SURFACE FOR PRODUCING A THRUST LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID CASING UPON ROTATION THEREOF, SAID SUPPORT POST HAVING PASSAGES THEREIN, MEANS INCLUDING SAID PASSAGES FOR SUPPLYING A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE AND FOR IGNITING THE LATTER IN SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBER, MEANS FOR EFFECTING ROTATION OF SAID CASING BY THE DISCHARGE OF COMBUSTION PRODUCTS FROM SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBER. 